Senator Lamar Alexander to Retire in 2020

A United States Senator from Tennessee will retire at the end of his term in 2020, according to a statement released Monday morning.

“I will not be a candidate for re-election to the United States Senate in 2020. The people of Tennessee have been very generous, electing me to serve more combined years as Governor and Senator than anyone else from our state,” Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said in press release.

The 78-year-old Alexander is the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and has served in the Senate since 2003. He was Governor of Tennessee from 1979-1987.

“I am deeply grateful, but now it is time for someone else to have that privilege,” the release said. “I have gotten up every day thinking that I could help make our state and country a little better, and gone to bed most nights thinking that I have. I will continue to serve with that same spirit during the remaining two years of my term.”